Mystery Melange

The latest issue of CrimeFactory is out with an Abbott Family two-fer: Megan Abbott interviews Andrew Nette, and Patti Abbott contributes a new short story. Other features include an essay by Josh Stallings, Spi-Fi smut uncovered by James Hopwood, plus many more interviews and fiction.

The crime fiction awards keep pouring in: the Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America in various categories; and Spinetingler Magazine announced its 2012 honors, including Best New Voice, Donald Ray Pollock for his novel The Devil All the Time; Best Rising Star Anthony Neil Smith (All the Young Warriors); and Best Legend, Lawrence Block (A Drop of the Hard Stuff).

One of the latest installments in the Akashic Books "city noir" series is Long Island Noir, edited by Kaylie Jones and featuring stories by Reed Farrel Coleman, Sarah Weinman and over a dozen other authors. Criminal Element is offering a sweepstakes you can enter to win a free copy of the anthology.

It's the start of a new month, and that means Omnimystery News is once again providing a list of "Firsts on the First," new series characters being introduced in novels published during May.